Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. publicly apologized on August 4, 2026, for his May 15 arrest in Twiggs County, Georgia, where deputies clocked him driving his Lamborghini at 135 mph in a 70 mph zone. Smith called the reckless driving incident unacceptable and confirmed he also apologized to team ownership.
The May Speeding Stop in Twiggs County
The traffic stop occurred at 10:41 p.m. on May 15 along Interstate 16 in Twiggs County, Georgia, according to the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies clocked Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. driving his 2026 Lamborghini at 135 mph in a 70 mph zone.
According to the sheriff’s office, the vehicle pulled over without incident and Smith cooperated throughout the encounter. He chose to follow deputies back to the sheriff’s office, where authorities issued citations for speeding and reckless driving, collected bond, and released him about an hour later.
Smith faced a court date originally set for July 14, but he avoided an appearance by paying the applicable fines. Speaking to reporters on August 4, 2026, he stated that nothing came from
his arrest.
Public Apology to Team Leadership and Ownership
Addressing the media on August 4 for the first time since training camp opened, Smith owned up to the offseason incident and detailed his private apologies to top club executives.
“I apologized to the organization, and I’ll make that apology now, you know? I represent the Eagles no matter where I go. You know, Georgia, Florida. It doesn’t matter. And that’s one of the ones that I own up and I apologize for. And it’s just like that we make mistakes and it can’t happen again, and that’s unacceptable. I did apologize to Howie, I did apologize to Mr. Lurie, and I can’t let my teammates down like that. They hold me to a different accountability on and off the field.”
Nolan Smith Jr., Philadelphia Eagles linebacker, via Fox News
Smith confirmed he spoke directly with general manager Howie Roseman and chairman and chief executive officer Jeffrey Lurie. Head coach Nick Sirianni previously addressed the arrest during spring minicamps, noting that the team handled the matter internally through direct conversations.
Contract Status and Roster Outlook in Philadelphia
The Eagles selected Smith in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft out of the University of Georgia. Entering his fourth professional season at age 25, he has recorded 10.5 sacks, 25 quarterback hits, and 10 tackles for loss across 45 regular-season games.
The team executed the same option for defensive tackle Jalen Carter before signing him to a long-term extension.
Smith’s 2025 campaign was disrupted by injuries. After undergoing surgery for a torn triceps following the Eagles’ Super Bowl run, an aggravation in Week 3 forced him to miss five games, limiting him to three sacks in 12 appearances. Now healthy and working through training camp, Smith aims to secure a larger role in an edge-rushing corps that added Jonathan Greenard, Arnold Ebiketie, and A.J. Epenesa during the offseason.
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